Ticks in Dogs

The most common symptoms of many tick-borne diseases in the United States—like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick paralysis—first present with a fever and lethargy. Some diseases can also cause weakness, lameness, joint swelling, or anemia. With tick paralysis, the gradual onset of a clumsy gait that develops into paralysis may occur.

Some symptoms of certain tick-borne diseases can take days, weeks, or even months to appear.

Symptoms

• Scratching
• Embedded brown or black ticks (they range in size from about a millimeter to the size of a marble)
• Skin bumps
• Crusty spots or scabs on the skin
• Red spots or bullseye-shaped red circles on the skin
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Joint swelling
• Anemia
• Clumsiness

Scratching

Dogs itch when bitten by ticks, so they scratch the affected area, and this may be the first indication that your dog has a tick. As you're looking and feeling for ticks, pay special attention to the warm area around the face, ears, neck, armpits, and groin.

Embedded Tick

On light-colored dogs, it can be easy to spot a brown or black bump protruding from the skin. This may be a feasting tick. On darker colored dogs, however, it may be necessary to inspect them further for attached ticks or any scabs or wounds left behind by the dining culprit. However, if a tick has recently attached, it may not be very big; even on light-colored dogs, small ticks can sometimes be hard to find.

What Causes Ticks in Dogs?

Ticks are opportunistic parasites. They are attracted to warmth and motion, which signal the presence of a warm-blooded host. To encounter a tick and potentially get bitten, a dog will likely do one of the following:

• Wander into tall grass, wooded areas, or shrubs where ticks wait for prospective hosts (this is called "questing")
• Frequent areas where deer or other wildlife spend a lot of time
• Roam freely outdoors during the warm months of the year

How Do Vets Diagnose Ticks in Dogs?

If you notice a red bump, weeping sore, or bullseye-shaped rash where a tick was embedded in your dog, you should visit your vet for an exam and diagnostic testing. Your vet may perform a blood panel and a specific test called the 4dx to detect the presence of antibodies that indicate the presence of Lyme, ehrlichiosis, or other bacteria tick-borne diseases. A physical examination may reveal other telling signs such as fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and joint swelling. Further testing may be performed to check for kidney damage, a serious complication of systemic infection.